Blog as diary

Thai House, Santee, SC - 2009

I love it when this blog serves as a diary.

In 2009 I stopped at the tiny Thai House restaurant in Santee for green curry. They had a tradition of posting pictures of their customers on the wall and I turned the tables and had the family join me for a shot.

This weekend, ten years later, I realized that they had moved down the road into a larger building and stopped in again to find they still had some of the old pictures. Thanks to the search feature on this blog I was able to pull this shot on my phone and it caused such a joyful reaction. The grandparents had been visiting at the time of the photo and recently passed away. They were delighted to have this three generation shot. Too bad I am in the middle! 

From the travel file - Bergen

Bergen, Norway

My sister sent me brown cheese for Christmas. We had been surprised by it as a regular menu option on our trip to Norway this past summer and quickly went from, "what the heck is this? to "yum, I like this!" She found a source and had it mailed to me. What a treat!

The shop in the photo was in Bergen. I had to bide my time to get a clear view without tourists cluttering my image!

Happy weekend, kids!

Orange you colorful holiday decorations?!

Church St., Charleston, SC

Interesting and eye catching use of oranges as a holiday decoration.

I'd rather not be the one who had to clean out the trough after they start to spoil but it is colorful and creative!

Folly Beach

Folly Beach, SC

A lone beach watcher.

Merry Christmas from Folly Beach

Folly Beach, SC

As close as I live to the beach, I am most likely to be there in the winter when the rest of the country isn't. The crowds driving to the beach on a warm sunny day take much of the appeal away. Luckily we still get bright days in the winter. Someone decorated trees like this last year so I went hunting and sure enough, I found it! Merry Christmas!

Happy Charleston Holidoors!

Queen St., Charleston, SC

I tried to capture some of the Charleston doors decorated for the holidays this morning and had no trouble finding a good selection.

Folks on the peninsula do put in the effort to keep their properties in fine shape for us wanderers and I appreciated it. It made me come home and get out the rake to gather all the leaves in my own yard and plant a few winter blossoms. Happy long weekend, kids!

Gingerbread contest - healthcare version

Gingerbread contest, Charleston, SC 

Ooooh, you can't see all the little features of this Gingerbread setting done by the Imaging CT department but they didn't miss anything. The ambulance is picking up a broken gingerbread man. The CT machine topped it all! It is a donut!

Never Hurts to be Prepared

Consign Charleston, Charleston, SC 

I didn't ask any questions and I didn't look inside but this coffin was for sale at the Consign Charleston consignment store and listed as Holiday Item. It is after 12/5 so it is for sale! Deal! Steal!

Walking Quotes

Colonial Lake, Charleston, SC 

There are times when I have to take, I call it a 'silence bath',

where I shut off all the external gadgets. 

I go walk around, talk to people, and just live life for a while.

Patton Oswalt 

Resurrection Fern

The rest of the country is getting snow but we are getting rain, rain, rain. I tried to dash out for a quick walk to stretch my legs this mornings and spotted this lush growth of resurrection fern thriving in the damp on a fallen oak tree limb.

This remarkable plant can lose about 75 percent of its water content during a typical dry period and possibly up to 97 percent in an extreme drought. During this time, it shrivels up to a grayish brown clump of leaves. When it is exposed to water again, it will “come back to life” and look green and healthy. The plant gets its name from this supposed “resurrection,” but it never actually dies during the process. 

Stay dry out there, kids! 

Night of a Thousand Candles - Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens, Pawley's Island, SC

We skipped work early enough to beat the traffic and headed up the coast to Pawley's Island for the Night of a Thousand Candles festival at Brookgreen Gardens. I'd been to Brookgreen sculpture garden of course but this was our first visit to the holiday festival and it was a bit hit. We got there at dusk and got the lay of the land before all the candles were completely lit. It gets very dark. We had a little drizzle but not enough to spoil the mood.

We sipped a glass of wine, wandered the gardens and enjoyed a seafood dinner in the food tent. There were two entertainment tents and bagpipers under the trees. It was all a success and very well done but our favorites were definately the children's garden and the avenue of oaks with the hanging lights from the limbs. There were a lot of people there but it never felt too crowded or loud. It was lovely.

He shed, she shed...

Shed, Hampton Park Terrace, Charleston

I don't know who claims the shed but it is a sweetie! I walked past this one up near Hampton Park on a recent rainy morning.

Many thanks to the City Daily Portal for mentioning the longevity of this blog! Over ten years is a long time in blog years. I may be the grand matriarch of lowcountry bloggers :)! Thanks folks. It's been a fun journey and now serves as a diary of my walks, events and travel. 

Let the dog in!

The Citadel, Charleston, SC

Would someone please let the dog in? It's pouring out there! 

The bulldog is the mascot of The Citadel Military College.

Living Root Bridges

Living Root Bridges, Mawlynnong, Meghalaya, India

The last time I went back to India, my brother James took me to Mawlynnong to see a few of the Living Root bridges created over the years by weaving the roots of trees until they cross a river forming a bridge. It was an amazing sight to see. Here are a few links for more information: 

National Geographic: Living Root Bridges

BBC: India's Amazing Living Root Bridges

Mel's Cabin

Harold's Cabin, Charleston, SC

I wanted to get to Harold's Cabin while it was still renamed Mel's Cabin in recognition of Melvin Brown - physician and veteran who had been denied membership into the all white Charleston Rifle Club. We were late to the game but the folks sitting at the table in front of the sign, kindly moved so we could take a picture of it. Here's to you Mr. Brown. We want to be in your club! 

Post & Courier: Harold’s Cabin, the popular eatery near Hampton Park, might develop a new cocktail named for a beloved regular, Melvin Brown — something involving rum since Brown, an emergency room doctor, is a Navy veteran.
In the meantime, the restaurant changed its name. For a few days only, it was called Mel’s Cabin.
A temporary sign, which was to come down Monday evening, covered the word “Harold’s” and included the phrase “Where all are welcome.”
Why would a neighborhood restaurant take such measures? Because Brown, an African-American, recently was rejected for membership by the all-white Charleston Rifle Club, located about a half-mile north, along the Ashley River, at the base of the peninsula’s “Neck.”

PS: Brunch was delicious and recommended!